12-point directives issued by DC Cachar to combat the threat of urban flood/ water logging

Dec. 24: The threat of urban flood/ water logging is increasing with each passing year in Silchar Town and in its peripheral areas thereby causing much hindrances to its development. This flooding/ water logging, if further continues, may cause damages to the infrastructures (both Govt. & Private)/ houses and also to the road connecting Silchar Town and other peripheral areas. If it is not taken into consideration immediately, these may lead to severe problem in the future and if allowed to continue unhindered, it may cause a mishap of great magnitude putting the public in general in a situation of great inconvenience and hardship.

It is in this backdrop that Keerthi Jalli, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairperson, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Cachar directed the concerned enforcement agencies/ Departments like Revenue Circle Office, District Police, Water Resource Department (Silchar Civil Division), PWD (NH Division, Silchar), PWD (Silchar & Udharbond Territorial Road Division), PHE, APDCL and regulatory bodies like Silchar Municipal Board, Silchar Development Authority, Silchar to take immediate necessary steps.

It is in this connection that the DC Cachar cum Chairperson DDMA has issued certain directives which shall come into force with immediate effect. This direction is issued in greater public interest as per provisions as laid down in Section 30 sub-section (v), (xviii), of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Section 51 of Disaster Management Act 2005 will be applicable for non-compliance of the above directions,

The following directives were issued:

1. No department/ organization can issue any sort of NOC with regard to digging and cutting of road for any purpose whatsoever.

2. Unauthorized constructions should not be allowed under any circumstances and permission issued in sort of any type of construction should be backed by proper field investigation.

3. Immediate sealing of all potholes that accumulates water and disturbs the natural flow of water.

4. Drains should be free of all sort of obstacles to encourage normal flow of water.

5. Removal of all obstacles(temporary/ permanent) constructed over drains/roads/ khals (water channels) that is stopping the free flow of water should be removed on immediate basis.

6. All Major Khals (Rangirkhal/ Longai Khal/ others) should be made free of unauthorized construction/ occupancy through eviction, so as to encourage the connection of all major drainage to these khals leading to normal passage of flowing water.

7. Sluice Gate functioning should be strictly monitored by Water Resource (Mechanical Division), Cachar and in case of any problem created by any individual/ others, strict legal action should be taken against them.

8. Provision of Rain Water Harvesting should be made available in every newly constructed building (private/ commercial), failing to which building permission will not be issued.

9. The Authority shall determine at any stage that the construction is not proceeding according to the sanctioned plan or is in violation of any of the provisions of the rules, it shall notify the permit holder and all further construction shall he stopped until correction has been effected and approved by the Authority. If the permit holder fails to comply with the requirements at any stage of construction, the Authority is empowered to cancel the building permit issued.

10. In case of unauthorized construction, the Authority shall take suitable action, which may include demolition of unauthorized works and sealing of premises.

11. Assam Notified Urban Areas (Other than Guwahati) Building Rules, 2014 & DM Act, 2005 should be strictly abided for issuing any permission/ NOC.

12. A copy of any order/ permission issued with regard to any sort of construction will have to be shared with DDMA, Cachar.